Personal Narrative : My Mom 's Stepmother

1115 Words3 Pages

Cathy is my mom 's stepmother. She has always been a really big part of my life. I chose her for my guided biographical study of an older person, because I know she has gone through a lot in her lifetime. She is very easy to have conversations with, and she is very open about the hardships she has been through. I also chose her because it was convenient. She decided to come visit for a few days in October, so I asked if I could interview her for class while she was here. Cathy lives in Alabama with her daughter and son-in-law. She is a widow, whose husband died almost 2 years ago. They were in the process of moving to Alabama from Albany, Georgia, when he went into cardiac arrest. She has 1 daughter and 1 son, as well as 1 stepdaughter. Her stepson died of heart failure just over 2 years ago. Her daughter has recently been diagnosed with Dementia, so Cathy and her son-in-law have become her caretakers. She suffers from Arthritis in her hands and fingers. She no longer works. Cathy was born in Albany, Georgia in 1938. Her father was a hard-working man and her mom stayed home with the children. She went to school in Albany, GA until the 8th grade. She later met a man who became her husband. They had 2 children together. They divorced after 11 years together, due to him raising a hand to her and their oldest son. She moved back in with her parents for a short while, getting a secretary job at one of the local churches. The preacher there had recently also been through a divorce, and the two began dating. After a year of dating, she and the preacher, my grandfather, married. The two were together for 43 years, until his death in 2014. Cathy says that my grandfather was the first man she ever really loved. He was kind, patient, an... ... middle of paper ... ... my body and mind. She credits her mental and physical health to her constant reading and walking. At 78 years old, she is still the quick-witted person I have always known and loved. Cathy has aged gracefully, and I honestly hope I can do the same. She has taught me to carry on when life gets hard. She lost her step-son and her husband within 4 months of each other. The doctors diagnosed her daughter with dementia only a few months after all this happened. Rather than shutting down and falling into a depression, she decided to take action. She poured herself into helping her daughter, as well as taking control of her own health. I think, overall, I learned that life can take some unexpected turns, and it is important to do what is best for oneself and those you care about. Cathy has led a fulfilling life so far, and I hope I get to spend many more years with her.

More about Personal Narrative : My Mom 's Stepmother

Open Document